– WWE has signed former Tough Enough competitor Daniel Rodimer. Rodimer used to play semi-pro football for the Tampa Bay Barracudas and was on the Smackdown version of Tough Enough for five weeks. Daniel Puder ended up winning that Tough Enough competition. Rodimer will be assigned to Deep South Wrestling for now.
– Commercials for ECW On Sci-Fi are hyping an RVD vs. Big Show match and hyping that we will find out why “the mad genius” Paul Heyman turned on Van Dam.
– Mike Kruel has signed a WWE developmental deal. He is the former ECWA Champion. He is expected to be sent to OVW.
– The July 24th ECW show has been moved to November 6th. The show takes place in Battlecreek, MI, Rob Van Dam’s hometown, and WWE wanted him to be the star. Had the show remained on July 24th, RVD would have been unable to work it due to his suspension.
– TNA has filed for the trademark “Austin Starr” to use for Austin Aries. TNA is going ahead and creating many names like this one and “Senshi” so that they may have ownership and market the names as they wish, while the wrestlers can retain ownership of the names they have established on the Independent scene
– Randy Orton has apparently opened a MySpace account here. There are some references to Brooke Hogan on the page and she is his “Top” friend.
– Terry Funk has an interview up on IYHonline where he discusses the Zombie and Dusty Rhodes among other things.
– ECW One Night Stand II will be released tomorrow. Along with the PPV, you will get a bonus disc of ECW Barely Legal 1997.
– WWE is offering free tickets to the military, in the following press release:
World Wrestling Entertainment(R) is offering all U.S. military personnel free tickets to its live events worldwide as another way for the company to show its gratitude for their service to their country.
Effective immediately, U.S. military personnel from the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Guard can claim a free ticket to a WWE RAW or SmackDown live event in their local area — excluding WrestleMania — by going to their local arena box office with a military ID the day of the WWE live event. Tickets are available the day of the event while supplies last.
“Armed Forces Entertainment is honored to work with WWE in what could be one of the largest offerings to U.S. Military personnel. It truly shows the immense respect and gratitude that WWE and its Superstars have for our airmen, marines, sailors, soldiers, national guardsman and coast guard,” said Art Myers, Director of Air Force Services, who oversees Armed Forces Entertainment.
Since 2003, Armed Forces Entertainment has hosted WWE SmackDown(R) and RAW(R) Superstars on their annual “Tribute to the Troops” holiday tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, which aired on the UPN and USA Networks. WWE recently visited troops in July during a handshake tour in Southwest Asia, and will also host its annual “Tribute to the Troops” in early December. On all tours, the WWE Superstars meet, sleep and eat with military personnel through a series of appearances, providing a special connection between the Superstars and the troops they meet.
“Keeping troop morale high is one of the most important functions of Armed Forces Entertainment,” said Art Myers, Director of Air Force Services, who oversees Armed Forces Entertainment. “The continued support from World Wrestling Entertainment gives our military personnel something to look forward to,” said Myers.
WWE Superstars regularly visit military bases and hospitals, including Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital, to bolster troop morale, and undertake several initiatives with the Department of Defense’s America Supports You program and local chapters of the USO. In 2004, the USO of Metropolitan Washington presented WWE with the first ever “Legacy of Hope” award for its extensive support of our troops and the USO’s Operation Care Package program.
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:WWE) is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto and London. Additional information on the company can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For more information on WWE’s activities with U.S. troops, visit troops.wwe.com.
Armed Forces Entertainment is the lead Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to U.S. military personnel serving overseas, with priority given to those in contingency operations and remote and isolated locations. The Department of the Air Force is the executive agent of Armed Forces Entertainment.
Founded in 1951 Armed Forces Entertainment brings a touch of home to more than 500,000 troops annually, embracing the best of Americana that stretches across all genres of entertainment. Visit www.armedforcesentertainment.com for more information.
Trademarks: The names of all World Wrestling Entertainment televised and live programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans and wrestling moves and all World Wrestling Entertainment logos are trademarks, which are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Credit: PWInsider.com
